Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written – one minute everything was normal, but the next I found myself right in the middle of the Christmas season!

I’m loving it of course. I spend half my year making fused glass Christmas decorations that are sold in gift shops throughout the country.  You’d think that after all these years, I’d be all organised, but it creeps up on me every year no matter what I do! I usually start about May or June to make batches of my little decorations, or to fill out the kiln shelf with a few decorations if I have space.  But then from August onwards, it takes on more urgency, as shops start to place their orders so that they know they’ll be stocked in plenty of time.

This year has brought many changes and challenges to everyone, but I think it has offered me many opportunities.  I’ve enjoyed the time to do a few online courses, in everything from actually up-skilling some glass-making techniques, to getting to grips a little better with social media. I’ve had the pleasure of joining some networking groups, and I also took up the opportunity offered by the Design and Craft Council of Ireland to take part in their #madelocal campaign, which highlights the need to support #IrishCraft and #IrishDesign, and of course to #lovewhatyougive.

Now, as we head into the Christmas Market season, we’ve learned to adapt too. This weekend would usually see me standing beside my glass in the lovely Bellurgan Park, near Dundalk, Co Louth, at the Louth Craftmark’s annual Winter Fair. This year we’ve gone virtual, and this evening will see me instead engage with everyone from my own forge studio. Maybe you’ll be sitting at home in front of the fire, and you’ll tune in – I’d love that! Have a look at https://www.louthcraftmark.com/winter-fair-2020/.  All the live videos will be available on the website in the lead up to Christmas.

Happy shopping, everyone, and do try to shop local!